Scrapping Irish Water ‘could cost €1.6 billion’

Sinn Fein has tabled a motion calling for the abolition of Irish WaterROLLING NEWS

Scrapping Irish Water could cost the taxpayer €1.6 billion, Simon Coveney has warned as the Dail began a debate about the abolition of the unpopular charge and utility.

The local government minister insisted that getting rid of the fees would be a backwards step.

The Dail began debating a Sinn Fein motion to abolish charges yesterday with Eoin Ó Broin, the party’s housing spokesman, suggesting that the government had failed to heed the democratic will of the people.

“Water is a human right,” he said. “We do not believe that the imposition of water charges is socially just. Water should not be commodified. We need to invest in real conservation measures.